Chapter 11

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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

Eight months after Ra's Al Ghul.

I was racing back to the bat-underground on my bike. Tonight has been a particularly erratic night. First of all, there was several sightings of copycats and Batman was fighting crime as usual. But something went wrong. There was an explosion in the building he was in. Since I was at work, I had no way to know if he was alright or not. Normally, I shouldn't be that worried since you know Batman is supposed to still be alive at that point. At least, he was in the movies. Problem is this isn't a movie. This is real life and anything could happen. Anything like Batman's or Bruce Wayne's death. The door that was leading to the bunker were still open when I get there, so exceptionally, I got in with my bike.

As soon as I set a foot on the solid ground, I took off my helmet and rushed to Bruce's side who was already sitting at his desk. "Are you stitching yourself up?" I asked him breathlessly.

"Yes." He replied still focused on what he was doing. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"My shift ended about three hours ago. I came as soon as possible." I put my helmet on the desk and took off my black leather jacket. "Let me do it for you." I took the needle from him before he could protest. "What happened back there?"

"I don't really know. There was an explosion." Bruce replied as I stitched up his shoulder. "I was on the edge when it happened, so I didn't get caught in the explosion."

"You got caught in the explosion, Bruce. Proof is, I'm stitching you up." I countered. I cut the thread and put a bandage on it. "You really got me scared." I sat down.

"I can see that. Your hands are shaking." Bruce remarked putting on his shirt.

I clenched my hands trying to stop the shaking "That tends to happen when someone you care about is caught in a bloody explosion." I retorted. I crossed my arms on the table and leaned my forehead on them. "I'm glad you're okay."

"You knew I wouldn't die tonight." Bruce said.

I raised my head up and glared at him. I got up. "I told you that I knew some things not everything. And yes, maybe in some rational part of my brain, I knew you were still alive. That I didn't have to worry." I shoved him slightly back. "But the irrational part, the emotional part was scared shitless that you might have died tonight. So excuse me for caring about you, Bruce." I shook my head and took my jacket from the back of the chair.

"I'm sorry to have you scared, Emma. It wasn't my intention. It won't…" Bruce started.

"Don't make promises that you'll break." I cut him off putting my jacket on. "Just try to be a bit more careful, next time." I sighed. "Go get some rest. You need it as much as everyone. You're only human after all."

Bruce grabbed my arm before I could climbed on my bike and pulled me to him. "Thank you, Emma."

"Don't thank me for that. We're friends after all." I smiled before leaning in and pecking him on the cheek before I could even think about it. I pulled away quickly and looked at him a bit embarrassed. My cheeks were hot as well as my neck. "Goodnight, Bruce." I said quickly before fleeing the bunker.

"Goodnight, Emma."

Stupid! That was stupid. Why did I feel so embarrassed about a peck on the cheek? It was just a peck, nothing more. I mean a friend normally kissed their friends on the cheek, right? I mean it's not like I lingered there more than I should have. So why have I blushed then? I couldn't possibly have feelings for him, now could I? No, I mean I care about him as friend but I don't have any feelings for him. We're friends, just friends.

"Why don't you just buy another one?" Sue said sitting on the counter.

"Because this fridge is still working. I don't need to change it." I grumbled getting out from behind the fridge. "And you don't waste good."

"Well, you should buy another one. This fridge has done is time." Sue insisted.

"I won't buy a new one. I love Stuart." I closed the fridge door.

"Stuart?" Sue scoffed.

"Yeah, Stuart is its name."

"Wait you name your furniture?" Sue held up one hand in disbelief.

"Yes, so what?" Sue laughed loudly. "What's so funny?"

"People don't name their fridge. You know who does that? Crazy people."

"I'm not crazy. I just got bored." I retorted. "In case, you're wondering, the TV is named Bob."

"I wasn't but good to know." She threw a grape in her mouth. "Anyway, you and I we need to talk?"

"Oh my God! You're breaking up with me." I said taking a step towards her. "Look, I know I haven't been a real good friend lately but I'm sure we can get through it. Just give me a chance."

"I'm not breaking up with you." Sue took my hands in hers. "Liam and I have talked about it and we've decided to move in together." She paused to let the information sink in. "In his apartment."

"You've only been dating for six months. Isn't it a bit too soon?" I frowned up.

"We're in love." She shrugged. "It's never too soon."

"You're abandoning me." I pouted.

"I'm not." She pulled me into a hug. "We'll still see each other. As often as we can. I promise."

That's what happened in real life. People has lives and they come and go in your life. Sue wasn't leaving me definitively but still it felt like it. She was building her life of her own and I was building mine. Except mine was full of danger and risks and Batman was a part of it. So was Bruce Wayne. It's weird to say this for me. A while ago he was just a fictional character in a movie. I've never cared much for the comics and the only things I've seen of Batman are the cartoons and the movies. And not all of them was very good. Anyway, I know I've already said this but sometimes I still don't believe it. Ridiculous, right?

I landed on the mat with a thud. "You're not focused enough today." Bruce remarked pulling me up.

"I am. You're just that strong." I retorted.

"What's wrong?" Bruce questioned.

"Everything is fine." I raised my fists up. "Let's have another go at it."

Bruce raised his fists up. And we sparred again. Nothing was wrong. My best friend just moved out of our building. The Joker might be here any day soon. I had to watch the mob bosses and find where they dropped their money. See, everything is fine.

"Ouch!" I held my face and widened my eyes looking up at Bruce. "You punched me!"

"Let me see." Bruce took off his gloves and took my hand away from my face.

"I told you. Not the face." I continued to complain.

"It's okay. You're not bleeding." Bruce said. "I told you, you weren't focused."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I glared at him. "Well, it ain't."

"Don't be so dramatic." Bruce countered.

"It hurts." I pouted.

"Your nose is not broken." Bruce assured me. "It should be alright." He pulled me to the chair and sat me down. He passed me the water. "What's wrong?"

"I told you already. Everything's fine." I said holding my nose. Bruce gave me a pointed look. "I just have a lot on my mind, right now." I sighed and gulped down my water.

"Such as?"

"My best friend moved in with Liam." I retorted. "And now, it just feels weird not to have her barge into my flat anytime she feel like it." I shrugged. "I'll be more focused next time. You owe me for that." I gestured to my nose and kicked his leg.

"Well, you can always barge in here, anytime you want." Bruce said sitting down across me.

"What are you working on?" I asked him moving my chair closer to his.

"A new project." Bruce retorted hiding his papers from me.

"Such as?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"It wouldn't be fun if you knew everything, now would it?" He smirked. Told you he had a knack to reuse people's words against them.

"Bruce, have I told you that I'm a pretty good detective?" I questioned him. "I'll find your secret whatever it is."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise." I smirked. "Anyway, I just remembered something about Lau."

"What?"

"Gordon has been summoned to Harvey's office and they talked about the warrant and the mob bank over there." I explained. "I think that if I can get Gordon and Dent to have this conversation out of his office, we might be able to save this operation. You won't have to go to China and we'll prosecute the mob bosses a bit earlier."

"What about the Joker?"

"We've already found the fourth mob bank. He'll rob the fifth one. He'll be there soon."

"And we'll be ready for him."

"Alright, need to go." I said getting up. "Dinner with the Gordon family."

"You and Gordon seem pretty close." Bruce remarked.

"Yeah, he helped me when I arrived in Gotham. I'm good to go." I kissed his cheek and stopped when I realized what I just did. "I really need to stop doing this." I muttered walking up to the platform.

"Aunt Emma!" Jim Jr. and his little sister beamed when they opened the door.

"Hey, Jimmy! Hello, little princess!" I smiled at both of them. "Look, what I brought for you." Jimmy took the bag from my hand. "Evening, Babs." I kissed her cheek.

"It's been a while." She replied closing the door behind me.

"I've been busy, just like your husband." I smiled as Jim Sr. stepped into the kitchen. "Good evening, Boss."

"Evening, kid." Gordon answered.

"Dad, look what Emma bought for us." Jimmy said to his father. Gordon looked at the toy in Jimmy's hands and raised an inquisitive eyebrow to me.

"What?" I shrugged. "That blue box is cool. Cooler than Batman."

Alright, I think the Dark Knight episode is coming right up in the next chapter. Bruce and Emma's relationship will still grow and maybe who knows, they'll might become more than just friend.

I'm back to work so I won't be able to update as often as I did before but I'll try as much as I can.